Action for Rail campaigners gathered at over 50 stations across England, Scotland and Wales today (August 16th) to protest a rise in rail fares and support the campaign for a publicly owned railway with affordable fares. This morning the government announced a 1.9% increase in the cost of train tickets in line with the inflation figure used to calculate the annual rise in regulated rail fares (RPI).

Action for Rail campaigners asked passengers at London Bridge station to write to their MPs

At London Bridge, Action for Rail were joined by leader of the Labour party Jeremy Corbyn MP, Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald MP, and leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennett, who support the call for affordable rail fares under a publicly owned railway. Southern Railway commuters shared their frustration about the continued delays and cuts to train services. Southern Rail is a franchising failure and needs to be brought under public ownership. We know public ownership can work – evidence shows that the publicly owned East Coast was a success story before being moved back under a private company.

Thank you to everyone who took action for rail, from Sheffield to Brighton to Berwick-on-Tweed, to demand an affordable railways under public ownership. Help us end the #railripoff by writing to your MP: bit.ly/2augyO6

@actionforrail

Action for Rail campaigners at Burton-on-Trent stationAction for Rail campaigners at Berwick-upon-Tweed stationAction for Rail campaigners at Sheffield stationAction for Rail campaigners at Liverpool Lime Street stationAction for Rail campaigners at Derby station

Action for Rail campaigners at Bromley South station (London)Action for Rail campaigners at Lincoln station

Action for Rail campaigners at Norwich stationAction for Rail campaigners at Wolverhampton station